Double Dorsal Capsulodesis in the Treatment of Chronic Scapholunate Instability: Description of a New Surgical Technique and Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: The scapholunate ligament (SLL) injury can cause wrist pain and instability. There is a wide variety of surgical techniques used for the treatment of this lesion, such as dorsal capsulodeses, tenodeses with flexor or extensor tendons, and bone-ligament-bone graft.
 Objective: To describe a new technique for the treatment of SLL injury aiming to stabilize the dissociated carpus with a double dorsal capsulodesis.
 Materials and methods: By presenting the case of a 36-year-old male security officer who injured his left wrist in a motorcycle accident, a procedure to align the carpus is proposed. The long-term outcome of this procedure is also described
 Results: The proposed surgery was successfully performed; it had excellent clinical and functional results, with no complications. Long-term restoration of carpal alignment observed in wrist radiographs was evidenced after two years of follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and with full functional recovery.
 Conclusion: The proposed technique appears to be reproducible, effective and easy to perform. Unlike the technique described by Blatt, the aim of this one is to restore the physiological position of the lunate bone by adding a second capsulodesis, as it is believed to be an essential factor in the maintenance of carpal kinematics.